Following two semi-final games, Korea will play Japan for the title of Pacific-Asia Curling champions and a spot in the LGT World Men’s 2022. The gold medal game is set for 14.00 on Saturday (13 November) in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
In the first semi-final of the day, Korea faced hosts, Kazakhstan. The defending champions from Korea held a 5-2 lead after five ends and with a score of two in the eighth end, they went on to win 7-4.
“We just struggled before the game, but we figured out how to manage the ice. Now I’m happy – we played well. My teammates want to go to Las Vegas [for the World Championship] just because, it’s Las Vegas!” said Korea’s skip Chang-Min Kim.
In the second semi-final, Chinese Taipei met undefeated Japan. In the third end, Chinese Taipei skip Ting-Li Lin faced a tough draw to the four-foot against three Japanese counters. He was light on this shot and gave up a steal of three to go down 4-0.
With a great double take-out in the seventh end, Japan set themselves up for two points to take an 8-2 lead. Finally, in the eighth end, Chinese Taipei drew to the eight-foot for a single point and conceded defeat, by 8-3.
“We threw well and communicated well, and we just keep the same to the gold medal game. We only have one spot [at next year’s World Championship], it’s gonna be tough, but we knew it when we came here. We just need to keep the same performance,” said Japan’s skip Yusuke Morozumi.
“Team Korea should not be the same as in the round-robin game, but we only need to keep our performance high and focus on the gold medal game.”
With this, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei will now play in the bronze medal game on Saturday at 09.00. Regardless of the winner, it will be the first international medal for either Member Association.
“[To win the last Pacific-Asia medals] means a lot to me, because for Chinese Taipei this is the second time in the play-offs, and the best result we have is fourth place. So winning a bronze would be making history for Chinese Taipei, so that means a lot to us,” said Chinese Taipei’s skip Ting-Li Lin.
Results
Semi-final 1: Korea 7-4 Kazakhstan
Semi-final 2: Chinese Taipei 3-8 Japan
You can follow the work of the World Curling Federation on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Weibo and by searching the hashtag #curling #PACC2021
